Compassionate Breakthrough: Trailblazers in Hungary Use Drones to Save Animals at Risk During Harvest

In a groundbreaking initiative, the National Association of Drone Pilots and the Rókales Foundation in Hungary, led by Norbert Kurunczi, have launched a project to use drones to map grain fields and prevent the death of vulnerable animals during harvest season.

As grain fields become work zones during harvest time, many wild animal families, including roe, deer and foxes, find themselves in grave danger. The dense vegetation that once provided shelter becomes a death trap when massive combine harvesters begin their work. Tragically, these machines often unknowingly mow down helpless animals, particularly young and newborn creatures unable to escape.

Antal Csevár, Vice President of the National Association of Drone Pilots and legal counsel, explains the motivation behind this innovative approach: “We’re trying to make animal rescue more effective in an area where dogs and alarms haven’t worked efficiently. The small game and newborns are helpless and can’t escape. Norbert’s idea was that it would be best to observe the animals’ location from above, so he started using drones.”

The drones, equipped with thermal cameras, can quickly detect living creatures in the early morning hours, significantly increasing the effectiveness of wildlife protection. This technological approach not only revolutionizes animal rescue but also gives drone usage a new, noble purpose.

Norbert Kurunczi, President of the Rókales Foundation, describes their process: “We go out at dawn when it’s still cool. The thermal camera shows GPS coordinates where there’s a living creature. If we find fawns, that point is marked. We go there, cover them with a plastic basket so the animal can’t move away. We put a flag there, and the machine bypasses the box.”

“If the situation calls for it, we take the fawn out of the field and keep it in a box, watching over it until the machine has finished harvesting the area, and then we return it to where we originally found it”, he continues. “In these situations, the doe, its mother, returns every two to three hours, but she won’t come close while the machine is there.”

According to Kurunczi, wildlife deterrents are not worth a dime, so the drone procedure is definitely the solution. “Even a dog sent into an area will be exhausted after 10 minutes because it can’t run through the dense vegetation either. Two drones can scan about 100 hectares in roughly 40 minutes.”

The initiative has garnered significant interest from drone operators across the country. The National Association of Drone Pilots, with its hundreds of members and over 5,000 followers across two community groups, has put out a call for all drone operators to join this wildlife rescue initiative.

While the project is still in its early stages, the organizers are optimistic about its potential impact. Norbert states, “If a hundred animals are saved this year, it’s already a success, even if it’s a small number compared to the thousands of animals affected annually. We’ve started this process now, people are taking notice of this new approach, and I trust that next year it will operate within a framework of full cooperation.”

The initiative aims to work collaboratively with farmers, landowners, and hunting associations. They stress that drones will only enter the fields when an animal in need is specifically identified, ensuring no damage to crops.

This innovative use of drone technology not only saves animal lives but also benefits farmers by preventing animal carcasses from mixing with harvested crops. As the project gains momentum, the organizers hope to turn it into a free service and are working to involve local governments to help spread awareness among landowners.

While time is of the essence with harvests already underway, this pioneering approach marks a significant step forward in wildlife protection. It showcases how modern technology can be harnessed for environmental conservation, potentially transforming agricultural practices to be more animal-friendly in the future.

Sources: 1, 2